This is the second time in 2008 that the headquarters of a specialty chemicals company has been successfully recruited to the Capital Region.
Along with relocating its headquarters and laboratories to Livingston Parish, Bercen plans to expand its local manufacturing operation for a total capital investment of $5 million, along with adding 20 jobs with average annual salaries of $90,000, plus benefits.
Bercen has been providing products, services and innovation to the paper industry for more than 40 years. Its products are sold worldwide and its facilities include a customer service department and manufacturing site in Denham Springs.
“The decision to move our sole base of manufacturing operations from Cranston to Denham Springs was based on what we found to be a more competitive business climate in Louisiana,” said Jim Thorpe, president and CEO of Bercen. “We are enthusiastic about the direction in which Louisiana is heading, and we want to be a part of it.”
Thorpe cited additional factors influencing Bercen's decision, including proximity to Louisiana State University and Southeastern Louisiana University for recruitment of research chemists and engineers, lower taxes, a robust petrochemical industry, proximity to raw materials and customer base, and proximity to the Port of New Orleans considering that exports make up more than 40 percent of the company’s business.
The company is expected to take advantage of $500,000 for infrastructure and relocation expenses from the Governor's Rapid Response Fund, as well as the Quality Jobs Program.
“This announcement represents the culmination of a coordinated recruitment effort,” said Stephen Moret, secretary of the Louisiana Department Economic Development. "By recruiting Bercen’s executive team to Louisiana from Rhode Island, we will be expanding the economy here while simultaneously securing the existing Bercen operation in Denham Springs.”
The recruitment effort to move Bercen's headquarters to Louisiana began in 2007. The new headquarters move is scheduled to take place by the end of 2009.
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